2012 Allstate BCS NationalChampionship logo unveiled

NEW ORLEANS -- The Bowl Championship Series (BCS) has unveiled the logo for the 2012 Allstate BCS National Championship Game, the 14th BCS National Championship Game overall and the fourth to be contested in New Orleans under the direction of the Allstate Sugar Bowl. This year's championship game is scheduled to be played on Monday, Jan. 9, at the Louisiana Superdome and will be televised on ESPN. The 78th annual Allstate Sugar Bowl will take place on Tuesday, Jan. 3, also at the Louisiana Superdome.

Bowl Championship Series

In 2008, the last time the Sugar Bowl hosted both its annual bowl game and the BCS National Championship, the city and state realized an economic impact of $412.4 million according to a study completed by Timothy Ryan of the University of New Orleans. Over the last five years, the Allstate Sugar Bowl has generated more than $1 billion of economic impact for the region.

"This logo will be enjoyed by millions of football fans, and treasured by the student-athletes and other participants for many years to come," said BCS Executive Director Bill Hancock. "We're proud that the championship game is so popular, and look forward to another great bowl season that will be capped off in the city of New Orleans."

"We are very excited to be able to once again host the Allstate Sugar Bowl and the Allstate BCS National Championship Game in successive weeks in early January," said Paul Hoolahan, the Chief Executive Officer of the Allstate Sugar Bowl. "In 2008, the Sugar Bowl Committee and the BCS worked arm-in-arm to produce a very successful two-week run which provided a tremendous boost to the city and state economies. We're looking to do more of the same in early 2012."

New Orleans has been recognized as "The Cradle of Champions," as there have been 22 college football teams that have capped national championship seasons with appearances in the Sugar Bowl. The Sugar Bowl Committee has hosted six match-ups between the No. 1 and No. 2 teams in the nation, including the 2008 BCS title game which saw LSU upend Ohio State, 38-24.

In addition to the Allstate Sugar Bowl and the Allstate BCS National Championship Game, the Sugar Bowl Committee is playing a key role on the Local Organizing Committee for the 2012 NCAA Men's Basketball Final Four, which will be played in the Superdome in late March and early April.